You raised 28% toward the $1,000 goal and the fundraiser is still open. If you haven’t joined us yet, please consider donating today. Your donation doesn’t need to be large. In fact, if every American with migraine donated just $1, $36 million dollars could go to migraine research.

Some astonishing facts about migraine:

Migraine is the third most common disorder on the planet.

It is the seventh highest cause of of disability globally.

It is by far the most disabling neurological condition worldwide.

36 million Americans have migraine. Most have three or fewer attacks each month, but 3% have chronic migraine.

Migraine costs the United States more than $20 billion each year in direct medical expenses and indirect expenses, like missed work and lost productivity.

Less than 1/20th of 1% of the budget of the National Institutes of Health – about $16 million a year – is allocated to migraine research. $260 million would more accurately reflect the prevalence and magnitude of migraine.

36 million Americans have migraine. Most have three or fewer attacks each month, but 3% have chronic migraine.

Migraine costs the United States more than $20 billion each year in direct medical expenses and indirect expenses, like missed work and lost productivity.

Less than 1/20th of 1% of the budget of the National Institutes of Health – about $16 million a year – is allocated to migraine research. $260 million would more accurately reflect the prevalence and magnitude of migraine.

If each of the 36 million people who have migraine donated just $1 each to migraine research, researchers could make enormous strides toward understanding and treating this disabling disorder. Imagine how much we could raise if all the people who love us also donated a $1. It’s not fair that we have to fund migraine research in addition to living with the burden of it, but if we don’t fund the search for a cure, no one will.

Please donate what you can to support the 36 Million Migraine campaign. Maybe you do so as a birthday gift to me as a thank you for how The Daily Headache has helped you, maybe it’s in honor of a loved one who triumphs over migraine every day, maybe it’s so your children or nieces and nephews won’t have a life devastated by migraine, maybe it’s for your own sake. Whatever the reason, please donate what you can to help find a cure for migraine.

Whether you can only spare the couple dollars you’d spend on a cup of coffee or your budget will allow for a larger donation, every contribution helps further migraine research. That’s the gist of the campaign — if each of the 36 million Americans who have migraine donated just $1, we’d have $36 million to investigate the causes of and treatment for this life-altering disorder.

Of course, not all 36 million migraineurs read The Daily Headache, so I’ve set my birthday fundraising goal at a modest $1,000. Please consider donating whatever you can spare to better the lives of everyone who lives with this poorly understood, debilitating illness.

P.S. Click on the orange “Optional Processing Fee” text on the Crowdrise donation page if you do not wish to pay an additional amount for processing (or if you wish to pay more in support of Crowdrise!).

Welcome to Kerrie Smyres' writings about chronic migraine, headache disorders, chronic illness & depression. Here you'll find coping strategies, resources, news & more to help you live a fabulous life with chronic illness.